“Why? Why should it?”
“Oh,” he said, “you don’t know to whom they’re reporting, and, of course, they don’t know why I was following you. As a result, their reports will read, ‘Shortly after subject left beauty parlor, Perry Mason started to follow. After observing that coast was apparently clear, Mason contacted subject, and they departed arm in arm, talking earnestly.’ ”
She frowned and said, “That would complicate things. I wouldn’t want — well, you know. It looks rather peculiar when you mention it that way.”
“That’s undoubtedly the way a detective would write it up in his report,” Mason said.
“Were you following me all the way from the beauty parlor?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t spot you until the drugstore,” she said. “What do you want with me?”
“I’d like to know who you are,” Mason said.
“Suppose I don’t tell you?”
“Then it will probably take me all of half an hour to find out.”